Ligands of HIV-1 TAT protein

Abstract

Methods are described for the identification of nucleic acid ligand solutions to the HIV-1 tat protein. Motifs I, II and III are nucleic acid ligands identified by the disclosed methods.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method for identifying non-naturally occurring single-stranded nucleic acid ligands to the HIV-1 tat protein comprising: a) preparing a candidate mixture comprising non-naturally occurring single-stranded nucleic acids;   b) contacting said candidate mixture with the HIV-1 tat protein, wherein non-naturally occurring single-stranded nucleic acids having an increased affinity to the HIV-1 tat protein relative to the candidate mixture may be partitioned from the remainder of the candidate mixture;   c) partitioning said increased affinity non-naturally occurring single-stranded nucleic acids from the remainder of the candidate mixture; and   d) amplifying said increased affinity non-naturally occurring single-stranded nucleic acids to yield a mixture of non-naturally occurring single-stranded nucleic acids enriched in non-naturally occurring single-stranded nucleic acids having increased affinity to the HIV-1 tat protein, whereby non-naturally occurring single-stranded nucleic acid ligands to the HIV-1 tat protein are identified.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 further comprising e) repeating steps b), c)and d). 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 wherein said candidate mixture of non-naturally occurring single-stranded nucleic acids contacted with the HIV-1 tat protein is comprised of RNA.